2010: Perry Compares KBH to Kinky

He has slammed Kay Bailey Hutchison as a creature of the tainted D.C. culture, as insufficiently conservative, as indecisive — but this may be the unkindest cut of all. In what can only be described as a jaunty, cocky interview with the web site Politics Daily, Rick Perry dismissed the candidacy of his main rival in Tuesday's GOP primary by likening it to that of 2006 independent gubernatorial hopeful Kinky Friedman. Asked by the site's editor, Melinda Henneberger, if his actions on the campaign trail suggest that he doesn't take the state's senior U.S. senator seriously, the governor replied:

"I think that's a legitimate question. Whether or not it gets into the realm of taking her serious as a candidate, I take her serious. But I took Kinky Friedman serious.''

Elsewhere in the interview, asked if he had pressured appointees to various boards and agencies to support him politically or else resign, Perry walked right up to the line without crossing it:

"I hope the people I've bestowed one of the most precious things a governor has, an appointment, I expect them to make good decisions," he said. "I don't think anybody who works for me considers me a micromanager...but I do want people to be loyal from a political standpoint. I would be disappointed'' if someone "I appointed decided to endorse a political opponent'' and would "consider them a distraction to the other loyal members. I look at a little bigger picture.''

As for his future political plans, the governor perhaps unintentionally offered new insight when explaining his rationale for seeking a third term:

"We've got an economy that's the envy of the other 49 states,'' he said, but "we're not to the point I feel I can walk away...I'm still very passionate about getting up every day doing this job, so walking away would be like Van Gogh walking away when he's two-thirds finished with a masterpiece.''

Let's see: If ten years is two-thirds finished, then maybe he runs again in 2014 and quits halfway through his fourth term to run for president...